Free horror RPG for Windows
School of the Dead is a free horror RPG for Windows by developer Rinbash. In this title with a school theme, you fall asleep during class. After waking up, horror unfolds since everyone’s gone, and you’ll soon find out why.
As with other horror games like Haunt: The Real Slender Game and the more bizarre Backrooms Buff Doge Horror, the action develops in a 3D setting, in this case, a school. You’ll soon learn that you need to survive being chased by your opponent, a deranged janitor. You’ll visit empty rooms and dark spaces, solving puzzles while trying to escape.
In slasher movies, a killer is loose, stalking and murdering people with sharp tools or weapons. This concept was later translated to video games, where the same core principles apply.
Typical slasher game elements
In School of the Dead, you’ll need to solve puzzles, immerse yourself in mazes, and do other tasks, mainly to avoid detection. It’s a well-populated game genre these days, so there aren’t any significant innovations to be seen here.
Tense atmosphere
The school is well-depicted, and it offers a creepy atmosphere. This is especially true with a killer on the loose. However, there are tiny details such as bloody writing on the walls, eerily quiet rooms, security monitors with static, and more.
These elements all create a sense of impending danger since you don’t know how long the quietness is going to last.
Excellent graphics
The graphics in this title are perfect for an indie game, with full 3D action in first person and high-resolution textures. The lighting effects add to the gloomy atmosphere, and the janitor looks scary enough in his own right.
Some things leave a bit to be desired, though: animations could be better, and some effects like fire look somewhat generic.
Don’t even think about prom night
Whereas crazy killers and schools aren’t an innovation, this is an exciting title to sink some time into. Everything is correct, for lack of a better word. That is, the school layout is correct, as are the game mechanics, and your enemy.
This means that it’s an okay game, but it lacks originality. Some of the puzzles are also a bit convoluted. Having said that, the game never takes itself too seriously, which is great. Cheesy lines here and there, and some dark humour break the tension at the right moment.
